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October 4, 2000
Oak Glen, California

Dear Friends and Family,

Uncle Scott's long hard work in the orchards has paid off, and the Lord has given us a good crop of apples this year!

In the picture at the right, our long time family friend, Judy Hessinger, explains to farm visitors how to pick an apple:  push up and twist.

According to Judy, if the apple's spur wood is broken, an apple won't grow in that spot for two or three seasons.   Ergo:  push up and twist; don't yank or pull.

A few rules for apple-picking, according to Judy:

1.  Don't let children throw the apples.

2.  Please pay for your fruit before eating it.  (There are sampling tables at the packing shed, if you want to try before buying.)

3.  We're now picking Antique Red Delicious, Winesaps, and Rome Beauties.  If an orchard is marked "don't pick yet," that means it's not ready for picking.

4.  The antique red delicious do not need to be completely red in color to be ready.    


The farm is now open Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 5:00 PM.  (Most of the rest of Oak Glen is open on Sunday as well.)  You can pick apples without an appointment.    Have a good time! 

Your humble servant,

James Riley

Don't Forget...

This year, over 10,000 school children  will take part in our Living History Field Trips.    Click here to make it 10,001!       The price is $12.00 per participant, with one free adult for every 15 students.      This includes lunch and four hours of participatory living history, covering either the American Revolution, Civil War, or Early California.

After an early March visit this year, a  fifth grade teacher from San Diego wrote us to say, "Thank you for the most wonderful field trip I have ever hosted for children.   Your knowledge of history, the authenticity of your facilities, the beauty of the surroundings, and the love of history that you shared with the students are very much appreciated." 

Thanks!  

Mark your calendars!   We look forward to visiting with you soon.

 Your Humble Servant,

 

James Riley

 

 

P.S. For the sake of those "web portals" constantly browsing the internet to update their search engines, we include the following boiler-plate. (Feel free to read this, if you're new to our site.)

Riley's Farm is a working apple orchard and living history farm in the Oak Glen area of Southern California. In addition to farming, we love history and we have provided a venue for re-enactment units comprising many different eras. The farm regularly hosts banquets, birthday parties, weddings, and office parties. Every year, literally thousands of students participate in one of our school tours, where they experience everything from weaving, candle-dipping, and cider pressing to the drill and muster of a Revolutionary War or Civil War battle. Our farm has appeared on the History Channel and in the recently released feature film, Amistad, as well as many other film and television productions. (We even try to get the producers to include us as on screen talent, but that's another story.) On selected weekends throughout the year, we offer "farm-stay" weekends, where families can experience--clothing, wood stoves, muskets, and all--the life of an 18th or 19th century American farmer. We grow sweet corn, apples, raspberries, pears, and sunflowers, just to mention a few of our crops. Our nephew, Devon, keeps some beautiful Belgian draft horses for country hay-rides. We love America--its traditions, its people, its history, and its cherished heritage of liberty in Christ. Have we said enough? Well, one more thing: In the fall, thousands of families make an annual pilgrimage to the farms of Oak Glen to experience the closest thing to a New England fall California has to offer. Why don't you stop by and say hello?

P.S.  Stay Clear of this "Cider House"


The hills by the Corn Patch

Contacting us via e-mail at: info@rileysfarm.com.

Sign our Guest Book.

Riley's Farm
12261 S. Oak Glen Road
Oak Glen, California 92399

(909) 797-7534



Event Schedules Subject to Change: Please call to confirm!

Riley's Farm, Copyright 1997-2000, All Rights Reserved